Is it a bus? Is it a tram? No, it's the tram-bus.
A new take on the London bus just launched in south London. These sleek, zero-emission vehicles run on regular roads like a bus, but charge up using a pantograph (top-mounted power grabber), like a tram. Hence, they've been dubbed 'tram-buses', even if you and half the people on Facebook like to scream "IT'S NOT A TRAM".
The pantograph malarky has one big advantage over a regular electric bus. It's much quicker to charge. Drivers can pull into a charging bay at the end of route and be on their way again in as little as six minutes. No need to duck into the bus garage for a lengthy reboost. The driver doesn't even need to get out of his or her cab; the pantograph drops at the push of an onboard button. This brings a more efficient service, with fewer buses needed to support the route.
20 of the buses, designed by Spanish company Irizar and operated by Go-Ahead London, are now entering service. Initially, they will run along route 358 — one of TfL's longest — between Crystal Palace and Orpington. If it proves a success, the pantograph system may be rolled out to other routes, though TfL are tight-lipped over where might be next.
The vehicles also feature new seat designs and grippier floor surfaces to reduce accidents. USB phone charging ports come as standard. Altogether, it's a smooth, quiet ride. One cool design feature is the low windows, which offer a prime view of the gutter if you're on the bus, or a cheeky glimpse of lower-leg if you're looking in from the outside. Not really sure what they're here for, to be honest but, hey, it's good to have a bit of novelty.
The new vehicles join around 1,700 other zero-emission buses in TfL's fleet, part of the effort to reach a totally emissions-free bus network by 2030.
